France - Terminal decline, or just misunderstood

[Bereta_Eder]

You have to deguiltilize yourself. I'm not saying you have a "go" at anyone or that I care.
I'm just correcting your Murdoch preceptions if and when I see them.

You said that France is in "crossroads" I'm pointing out that there's a clear way. If a country is really at crossroads it's the UK and Turkey both of which have to decide what they want as Europe is advancing.

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by TheStinger
Berlusconi is clearly a clown, however that doesn't mean Italy is not going to start to assert itself even when he has gone.

I doubt Italy feels the need to assert itself given that it has already done as most countries. One of the very few countries that seem to feel always victimized by "France" (TM) is the UK. Perhaps it's time to wonder why..
Perhaps you should see more closely how the EU operates and that there's no "Francish ghost" that moves the strings on its own but a collective supra national approach to decisions.

I thought that in Spain that Aznar's party were likely to win

Aznar simply jumped at the wagon of the "Iraq" issue. I doubt there's ground to continue it. As for the elections, we'll see I admit noone knows.

[TheStinger]

The only thing Murdoch papers (well the Sun) would say about the French would be that they were Onion munching cowards.

I don't think I said that, infact I thought I was reasonably balanced.

[Bereta_Eder]

LOL... Well if not saying that France is an onion munching coward is considered balanced in the UK... then well done

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by Henrik
Their entire rail network was built before, during or just after the war, and in my opinion it's starting to show a lot.

I don´t think that is correct. Maybe the net was built at that time, but it doesn´t mean they use exactly the same railways today, there is always a lot of reconstruction work, so many parts of the net are much newer. For example, the ICE (ICE 3)highspeed trains, capable of running at a max. speed of 330 km/h get often brand new railroads especially built for this purpose.

In Germany the "Bahn" is often criticized, but for international standards it is still very good IMO. I don´t use it often, but when I used it, all was fine. No idea if one can say it is the best, though.

[Japher]

I agree with Stinger. As the EU grows their fate will be in the hands of a greater number of non-French people (i.e. Spain, Italy, Germany). The French may not always get things their way, since I see and hear that the French are sceptical about anything non-French that this may cause issues... Their future is shrouded.

[Bereta_Eder]

Their "fate" has always "been" in a far larger number of "non French people". As for despising anything than isn't French one would have to admit that this is not exactly "compatible" with going for a two state merger.

[Saras]

Originally posted by Japher
I agree with Stinger. As the EU grows their fate will be in the hands of a greater number of non-French people (i.e. Spain, Italy, Germany).

Spain, Italy and Germay are already in...

It's Lithuania that's gonna dictate

[BeBMan]

[Saras]

Tribute, you puny germanic underlings!

[BeBMan]

"underling"

Do you accept naturalia as tribute? Then I can send you some bottles of beer We don´t have much more good things. Ok, there are cars, but they are too big to send

[Nubclear]

Originally posted by Saras
It's Lithuania that's gonna dictate

The Lithuania Oblast will make Russia proud

[Saras]

Originally posted by Comrade Tassadar


The Lithuania Oblast will make Russia proud

Tass, I have a link for you.


LINK EDITED BY MING... Saras... check your PM's

[Adalbertus]

Usually, powers which rise slowly, go down slowly as well - I doubt, France is close to an end. Maybe (and what I hope to come) it will merge with many other European states in some way or the other. But I don't think this would be a loss of French language, mentality, or customs (or any of the others).

Corsica isn't much of a problem, because they are more Italian than French anyway (Every good Corse will protest here, I suppose )

Not that I've tried the French or Japanese trains but I doubt saying the German's have the best rail system in the world is correct.

Henrik, after having two trains on time of the last 14 I took (the rest was 10-20 min. late), I dare to doubt that. And they try to excuse this by slippery leaves on the rails - as if this was the very first autumn in Germany. Mehdorn

[Drake Tungsten]

Wow, I haven't had a late train in 4 months here.